The geochemistry of mine-waste pore water affected by the combined disposal of natrojarosite and base-metal sulphide tailings at Kidd Creek, Timmins, Ontario

1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 502-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.A. Al ◽  
D.W. Blowes ◽  
J.L. Jambor ◽  
J.D. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Mineral Dissolution ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Sulphide Oxidation ◽  
Neutralization Capacity ◽  
Water Composition ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Sulphide Tailings

Since 1985 natrojarosite residue (NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6) from the zinc refinery at Kidd Creek near Timmins, Ontario, has been disposed of with mine tailings containing up to 25 wt.% pyrite. Pore-water geochemical data have been collected from depth profiles through the vadose and saturated zones in the tailings. Three zones are defined by the concentrations of metals, SO4, and HCO3. In the deepest zone the concentrations of most metals and anions are below detection and the concentrations of Fe, Mg, Na, K, Zn, Mn, HCO3, and SO4 are low, similar to those in the mill discharge water. Higher concentrations of Na, K, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Pb, As, SO4, and HCO3 occur within an intermediate zone. These increased concentrations are attributed to natrojarosite dissolution. A surficial zone affected by sulphide oxidation contains high concentrations of metals and SO4. High concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Cr, and Al in this zone characterize the effects of sulphide oxidation on pore-water composition as distinct from the effects of natrojarosite dissolution. The H+ released by Fe3+ hydrolysis following natrojarosite dissolution is neutralized by carbonate-mineral dissolution that reduces the acid-neutralization capacity of the tailings and releases HCO3. Natrojarosite codisposal with tailings also causes deterioration of the pore-water quality because the dissolution of natrojarosite releases Na, K, Fe, Pb, and SO4 to the pore water. Key words : mine tailings, natrojarosite, jarosite, tailings geochemistry, sulphide oxidation.

scholarly journals Characteristics of an Iron-Reducing, Moderately Acidophilic Actinobacterium Isolated from Pyritic Mine Waste, and Its Potential Role in Mitigating Mineral Dissolution in Mineral Tailings Deposits

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 990
Author(s):  
Ivan Nancucheo ◽  
D. Barrie Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Mineral Dissolution ◽  
Mine Wastes ◽  
Temperature Growth ◽  
Growth Optimum ◽  
Heterotrophic Microorganisms ◽  
Mesophilic Bacterium ◽  
Moderately Acidophilic

Reactive pyritic mine tailings can be populated by chemolithotrophic prokaryotes that enhance the solubilities of many metals, though iron-reducing heterotrophic microorganisms can inhibit the environmental risk posed by tailings by promoting processes that are the reverse of those carried out by pyrite-oxidising autotrophic bacteria. A strain (IT2) of Curtobacterium ammoniigenes, a bacterium not previously identified as being associated with acidic mine wastes, was isolated from pyritic mine tailings and partially characterized. Strain IT2 was able to reduce ferric iron under anaerobic conditions, but was not found to catalyse the oxidation of ferrous iron or elemental (zero-valent) sulfur, and was an obligate heterotrophic. It metabolized monosaccharides and required small amounts of yeast extract for growth. Isolate IT2 is a mesophilic bacterium, with a temperature growth optimum of 30 °C and is moderately acidophilic, growing optimally at pH 4.0 and between pH 2.7 and 5.0. The isolate tolerated elevated concentrations of many transition metals, and was able to grow in the cell-free spent medium of the acidophilic autotroph Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, supporting the hypothesis that it can proliferate in acidic mine tailings. Its potential role in mitigating the production of acidic, metal-rich drainage waters from mine wastes is discussed.

scholarly journals Potential Use of Organic- and Hard-Rock Mine Wastes on Aided Phytostabilization of Large-Scale Mine Tailings under Semiarid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions: Short-Term Field Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Santibañez ◽  
Luz María de la Fuente ◽  
Elena Bustamante ◽  
Sergio Silva ◽  
Pedro León-Lobos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Hard Rock ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Goat Manure ◽  
Site Rehabilitation

The study evaluated the efficacy of organic- and hard-rock mine waste type materials on aided phytostabilization of Cu mine tailings under semiarid Mediterranean conditions in order to promote integrated waste management practices at local levels and to rehabilitate large-scale (from 300 to 3,000 ha) postoperative tailings storage facilities (TSFs). A field trial with 13 treatments was established on a TSF to test the efficacy of six waste-type locally available amendments (grape and olive residues, biosolids, goat manure, sediments from irrigation canals, and rubble from Cu-oxide lixiviation piles) during early phases of site rehabilitation. Results showed that, even though an interesting range of waste-type materials were tested, biosolids (100 t ha-1dry weight, d.w.) and grape residues (200 t ha-1d.w.), either alone or mixed, were the most suitable organic amendments when incorporated into tailings to a depth of 20 cm. Incorporation of both rubble from Cu-oxide lixiviation piles and goat manure into upper tailings also had effective results. All these treatments improved chemical and microbiological properties of tailings and lead to a significant increase in plant yield after three years from trial establishment. Longer-term evaluations are, however required to evaluate self sustainability of created systems without further incorporation of amendments.

Determination of the concentration of asbestos minerals in highly contaminated mine tailings: An example from abandoned mine waste of Cretaz and Emarese (Valle d'Aosta, Italy)

2014 ◽  
Vol 99 (7) ◽  
pp. 1233-1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Gualtieri ◽  
S. Pollastri ◽  
N. B. Gandolfi ◽  
F. Ronchetti ◽  
C. Albonico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Abandoned Mine

Dissolution and recrystallization in modern shelf carbonates: evidence from pore water and solid phase chemistry

1993 ◽  
Vol 344 (1670) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Chemical Exchange ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Carbonate Sediments ◽  
Pore Waters ◽  
Carbonate Minerals ◽  
Carbonate Production

We present an overview of geochemical data from pore waters and solid phases that clarify earliest diagenetic processes affecting modern, shallow marine carbonate sediments. Acids produced by organic matter decomposition react rapidly with metastable carbonate minerals in pore waters to produce extensive syndepositional dissolution and recrystallization. Stoichiometric relations among pore water solutes suggest that dissolution is related to oxidation of H 2 S which can accumulate in these low-Fe sediments. Sulphide oxidation likely occurs by enhanced diffusion of O 2 mediated by sulphide-oxidizing bacteria which colonize oxic/anoxic interfaces invaginating these intensely bioturbated sediments. Buffering of pore water stable isotopic compositions towards values of bulk sediment and rapid 45 Ca exchange rates during sediment incubations demonstrate that carbonate recrystallization is a significant process. Comparison of average biogenic carbonate production rates with estimated rates of dissolution and recrystallization suggests that over half the gross production is dissolved and/or recrystallized. Thus isotopic and elemental composition of carbonate minerals can experience significant alteration during earliest burial driven by chemical exchange among carbonate minerals and decomposing organic matter. Temporal shifts in palaeo-ocean carbon isotope composition inferred from bulk-rocks may be seriously compromised by facies-dependent differences in dissolution and recrystallization rates.

Pore water composition of volcanogenic sediments from across the Central American Subduction Zone

2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Ulrike Schacht ◽  
Steffen Kutterolf ◽  
Oliver Bartdorff ◽  
Emelina Corrales Cordero
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zone ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Central American ◽  
Water Composition ◽  
Central American Subduction Zone

scholarly journals Planting trees and amending with waste increases the capacity of mine tailings soils to retain Ni, Pb and Zn

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verónica Asensio Fandiño ◽  
Flora A. Vega ◽  
Rubén Forján ◽  
Emma F. Covelo
Keyword(s):  
Sorption Capacity ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Cation Exchange Capacity ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
Batch Adsorption ◽  
Organic And Inorganic Carbon ◽  
High Concentrations

The sorption capacity for Ni, Pb and Zn of mine tailings soil with and without reclamation treatment (tree planting and waste amendment) was evaluated using the batch adsorption technique. It is important to determine the capacity of waste-amended soils to retain Ni, Pb and Zn, as the sludges used usually have high concentrations of these metals. The results obtained in the present study showed that the untreated mine tailings soil had a low capacity for Ni, Pb and Zn retention. The sorption capacity for Pb increased significantly in all of the treated soils, without any significant differences between them. The treatment that most increased the sorption capacity for Ni and Zn was planting with trees and amending with waste simultaneously, as this increased the concentration of both organic and inorganic carbon, exchangeable calcium, soil pH and effective cation exchange capacity

scholarly journals The natural barrier to retention of the high concentration of gases: methane and carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen under hydrothermal vents

2019 ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
T.A. Smaglichenko
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
3D Seismic ◽  
Seismic Model ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Geological Structures ◽  
Diffusion Parameters ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Tomography Method ◽  
Natural Barrier

The assumed seismic model of the area around fields having high concentrations of CH4 and CO2, CH4 and H2 dissolved in hydrothermal vents is first introduced. The model of so-called natural barrier to retention of gases accumulation has been revealed using outcomes of 3D seismic tomography method, which has been developed by the author and utilizing geochemical data that were earlier obtained by other researchers in scientific cruises and university laboratories. The built model is in agreement with a distribution of seismicity (M 2.5–4.5) that occurred during last 5 years. A comparison of diffusion parameters of methane for thermal reservoirs and rocks, and corresponding comparison of geological structures permits to suppose that the presented model can be used to find appropriated area for underground storage of gases mentioned above.

scholarly journals Evaluation of soil intervention values in mine tailings in northern Chile

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Lam Esquenazi ◽  
Brian Keith Norambuena ◽  
Ítalo Montofré Bacigalupo ◽  
María Gálvez Estay
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Northern Chile ◽  
Environmental Liabilities ◽  
Threshold Factor ◽  
Proposal A ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Clay Percentage ◽  
Town Center

The aim of this work is to show a methodological proposal for the analysis of soil intervention values in mine tailings in order to determine the intervention requirements in the commune of Andacollo in northern Chile. The purpose of this analysis is to guide the intervention policies of both private and public organizations. The evaluation method is based on the Dutch legislation. The usability of the proposed methods depends on the available geochemical data from soil samples; in particular, we tackle the case when information regarding clay percentage in the soil is not available. We use the concepts of a threshold factor and an adjusted threshold factor to calculate a weighted intervention ranking. In order to illustrate the utility of this methodological proposal, a case study is carried out with the prescribed approach. In particular, this work presents an analysis of the elements of environmental significance related to the mining activity (Hg, Cd, Pb, As, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr) in the commune of Andacollo, Coquimbo Region, Chile. The analyzed samples are used to determine where the intervention of tailing deposits is necessary and where a solution to these environmental liabilities is required as soon as possible. Out of the 81 samples evaluated, it was found that 18 require a potential intervention, and of these samples, seven of them are associated with abandoned tailings that, in some cases, are located close to the town center itself, one sample is associated with active tailings and the other 10 with inactive tailings.

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